Religion news: Religion a large factor in Americans’ support for Israel

Religious Americans are much more likely to be sympathetic to Israel in the Middle East situation as compared to those who are less religious.

Comment

The Lake News Online

Writer

Posted Aug. 10, 2014 at 8:00 AM

Posted Aug. 10, 2014 at 8:00 AM

Lake area

Religious Americans are much more likely to be sympathetic to Israel in the Middle East situation as compared to those who are less religious.Over the past 14 years, 66 percent of Americans who attend church weekly or almost weekly report sympathy for Israelis, compared with 13 percent sympathetic to the Palestinians. This according to results of a Gallup Poll released this month.

Among those who never attend church, sympathy for Israel drops to 46 percent, but is still double the 23 percent sympathetic to the Palestinians.

In the middle, Americans who do attend church, but not frequently, support for Israel is at 58 percent and 16 percent for the Palestinians.

Not surprisingly, the highest rate of sympathy for Israel is reported among American Jews, with 93 percent siding with Israel and only 2 percent indicating sympathy for the Palestinians. Mormons also rate high, with 79 percent responding as sympathetic to Israel.

Good Book?

“The Best Yes: Making Wise Decisions in the Midst of Endless Demands,” by Lysa TerKeurst

Lysa TerKeurst is learning that there is a big difference between saying yes to everyone and saying yes to God. In The Best Yes she will help you: Cure the disease to please with a biblical understanding of the command to love; escape the guilt of disappointing others by learning the secret of the small no; overcome the agony of hard choices by embracing a wisdom based decision-making process; and rise above the rush of endless demands and discover your best yes today.

— Amazon

The Word

Karma: In Buddhism and Hinduism, the universal law of cause and effect; the effect (or fruits) of a person’s actions in one’s next lifetime.

— ReligionStylebook.com

Religion Around the World

According to the CIA World Factbook, the religious makeup of Kenya is: